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Beanstalk reading charity looking for new volunteers across Birmingham

A local charity that focuses on improving the reading skills of primary school children across Birmingham is looking for new volunteers.

Beanstalk has vacancies for volunteer Reading Helpers in schools across Birmingham, its Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator Liz Gordon–Smith says “Life is better when everyone can read well and express themselves confidently. Sadly, that isn’t the case. Last year over 7,765 children in the West Midlands left primary school unable to read to the required level, something that could have devastating consequences on their future prospects”.

Beanstalk is a children’s literacy charity that aims to rewrite this story. Beanstalk recruits and trains Volunteer Reading Helpers who go into primary schools and work with children on a one to one basis. Reading Helpers support children to improve their reading levels, increase overall confidence and enjoyment of reading. Together, they read, play and talk:

Gill, a Reading Helper in Birmingham says “I read with a girl on an ongoing basis, after 9 months she no longer needed support because she’d progressed so much! Our last session was bittersweet, I was sad that we weren’t going to spend our sessions together anymore, but I was happy because I saw her confidence grow and she was a delight to work with. I am proud to have played a part in her progress and working in support of what the school staff were doing.”

Each Reading Helper works with three children for 30 minutes each twice a week during school time.